Protecting your home during winter is an essential part of being a homeowner and one instance is avoiding ice dams. Now, you may be wondering what ice dams are, and we’ll get into that. What you need to know is that ice dams can cause significant damage to your home and may not be covered by insurance.

What Are Ice Dams and How Do They Affect the Home?

If you live in a snowy region, then it’s likely your home will develop an ice dam. Ice dams are a buildup of ice that accumulates on the edge of your home’s roof that occur when the ice forms a ridge that later can prevent water from draining. 

Over time, the ice and snow melt, but have nowhere to go. This causes the water to be absorbed by the home instead. Due to the water having nowhere to drain, as the ice is blocking it, then it will get absorbed into the home.

As you can imagine, roofing and water damage can cause detrimental damage to your home. In worst-case scenarios, the water may even spread to the ceiling and cause it to collapse.

What You Can Do to Prevent Damages

Luckily, preventing damage from ice dams is relatively easy. A homeowner can use a few different methods to help prevent water from being absorbed into the home. Below, we’ll provide the most effective methods on how to avoid ice dams and prevent damage.

Clearing Snow

The best preventative method to ensure that ice dams don’t form is to immediately remove any snow from the roof. This can be done by using a roof rake, as it can help pull excess snow from the top of your home. Not only that, but it can reach snow near the eaves, which can help prevent buildup. 

Cleaning Gutters

If your home has gutters, then it’s important to ensure that they are clear from debris. You may think that the water is draining off the top of your home, but it may actually be affecting your home. Always ensure that you clear your gutters and make sure to inspect them from time to time to ensure they are working properly.

Add Insulation or Roof Ventilation

While it seems counterintuitive, adding insulation to the top level of your home can be a good way to prevent water damage. Homes that have a lack of insulation often cause warm air to escape through ventilation, which can lead to the melting of snow. By adding a roof ventilation system, you can prevent ice dams from damaging your home.

Install Heating Cables

If your home’s height is too tall to reach using a roof rake, then you may want to look into heating cables. Heating cables are a one-time installation that line the edge of your roof. The warm air will prevent snow from accumulating on your roof, thus preventing any drainage. 

Inspections

Sometimes, no matter what you do, your roof may still attain water damage from ice dams. If this is the case, then you may need to get a professional’s opinion and see if you need roof repairs. Having a professional inspect your roof to ensure that there aren’t any issues could be a good way to prevent any future damage.

Contact Phil DiBello Family Roofing Today!

Let Phil DiBello Family Roofing help you avoid ice dams this winter and contact us to schedule an appointment today!